SANTA FE SPRINGS – By the way her hand trembled, it may have looked like St. Paul High School senior Chanele Dresser was signing her life away.

Well, she wasn’t, just the next four to five years.

The Norwalk resident signed her national letter of intent at St. Paul on Thursday to play softball for Irvine’s Concordia University.

“I didn’t think I’d get that nervous but I did,” Dresser said. “My hand was shaking when I was signing. I was just really nervous and happy.”

Dresser selected the NAIA school over Whittier College and Vanguard.

Dresser said it was in October after her second visit to Vanguard of Costa Mesa that she knew she would sign with Concordia.

“They were friendly to me and answered all my questions,” Dresser said. “They also told me I would come in and have a chance to compete for a starting position.”

The ability to try out for a starting position was a key point for Dresser, who said she wasn’t in favor of automatically sitting her freshman year.

“I don’t think I could play for a coach who has favorites. That just doesn’t work for me,” Dresser said.

“All I want is a chance to compete for a spot.”

Dresser played center field for the Swordsmen last season and batted .301 with 23 runs scored while helping lead St. Paul to a 19-11 record and a playoff win.

When asked about a potential playing position in college, Dresser said nothing had been set in stone.

“Offensively, I might bat one or two,” Dresser said. “Defensively, I’m left- handed, so I can’t play anywhere in the infield except first base, but I’m too small for that position.

“So, it looks like I’ll be in the outfield wherever they want.”

Dresser didn’t entertain any out-of- state options and said she didn’t want to leave California.

“I’ve traveled east and all over the country, and I love playing here in California,” she said.

Dresser said she helped out with a training camp for youths in July at Concordia, then went for an official visit in September.

Whittier College fell out of the running after Dresser said “the school stopped contacting me.”

The 5-foot-2 Dresser also was an accomplished libero and led the Swordsmen’s volleyball team with 3.1 digs per game as St. Paul finished 16-7-1 in the just-concluded season and advanced to the quarterfinals of the playoffs.